Refrigerator and controlling method of the same

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator having a controller and a method substantially allowing an independent cooling operation of a first compartment, e.g., cooling compartment and a second compartment, e.g., storing compartment. The storing compartment may be maintained at a cooling or preservation temperature which may be lower than a cooling or preservation temperature of the cooling compartment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-32113, filed on Mar. 31, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The application relates to a refrigerator having at least two compartments at different temperatures.

2. Background of Related Art

When a refrigerator has two storage compartments with or without a freezer, there are various problems associates with two compartments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator;

FIGS. 2 to 4 are views showing an operation of a channel controller of a refrigerator; and

FIGS. 5A-5G provide illustrations of refrigerators having different refrigeration chamber and freezer chamber configurations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

As shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerator according to one embodiment comprises: a body or housing 1; a first refrigeration compartment, e.g., a cooling compartment 10, provided in the body 1; a cold air generation room 20 supplying cold air to the cooling compartment 10; and a partition panel 100 partitioning the cooling compartment 10 and the cold air generation room 20.

The housing or cooling compartment 10 is provided with a second refrigeration compartment or second freezer compartment, e.g., a storing compartment 30, performing the cooling independently therefrom, wherein the storing compartment 30 is provided to be able to store cooled elements for a long time by rapidly cooling the cooled elements stored therein or constantly maintaining temperature therein. The storing compartment 30 may be provided within the cooling compartment 10 or may be a separate compartment divided by a wall within the housing (as shown by a dotted line). The storing compartment may be maintained at a temperature lower than the cooling compartment.

The cold air generation room 20 is provided with a cooler 21 generating cold air, wherein the cold air generation room may include an evaporator connected to predetermined devices forming a cooling cycle and can be implemented by a thermoelectric element, etc.

As shown in FIG. 2, the partitioning panel 100 is provided with a channel unit for supplying cold air generated from the cooler 21 to the cooling compartment 10 and the storing compartment 30. The cold air generated from the cooler 21 flows by a fan 101. The flowing cold air is supplied to the cooling compartment 10 and/or the storing compartment 30 through at least one of a channel communicated with the cooling compartment 10 and a channel communicated with the storing compartment 30. The main channel unit 130 provides the channel to the cooling compartment 10, and the bypass channel unit 140 provides the channel to the storing compartment 30.

The cold air flowing along the bypass channel unit 140 can directly flow into the inside of the storing compartment 30 and the cold air supplied through the bypass channel unit 140 can flow into the storing compartment 30 through a communication hole by spacing the ends of the storing compartment 30 and the bypass channel unit 140 from each other forming a predetermined size of the communication hole in the storing compartment 30.

The cold air supplied through the bypass channel unit 140 may also cool the vessel of the storing compartment 30 itself, making it possible to indirectly cool the cooled elements inside the storing compartment 30. The partition panel 100 is provided with at least one outlet 120 for discharging cold air to the cooling compartment 10 and is provided with an inlet 110 for allowing the cold air discharged to the cooling compartment 10 and/or the storing compartment to be recycled back into the cold air generation room 20.

As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, one side of the partition panel 100 is provided with the fan 101. The fan 101 may be formed of a circular fan. The cold air is inhaled or suctioned in an axial direction of the fan 10 and then ventilated in a radial direction. The cold air flowed by the fan 101 is guided by a guide unit 102 and then transferred to the main channel unit 130 and/or the bypass channel unit 140. The guide unit 102 is formed to be recessed at a predetermined thickness, and the edge surface forms a predetermined curved surface or scroll shaped. One side of the guide unit 102 forms a curved surface to be adjacent to the fan 101 and extends from the adjacent portion to form a curved surface by forming a predetermined gap with respect to the fan 101 so that it is connected to the main channel unit 130.

The main channel unit 130 includes a first cold air channel unit 131 and a second cold air channel unit 132. As shown in FIG. 2, the main channel unit 130 includes two cold air channel units 131 and 132, but other variations or designs are possible. The main channel unit may include more than three cooling channel units. Alternatively, the main channel unit 130 may comprise one cold air channel unit. The guide unit 102 is communicated with the bypass channel unit 140. The bypass channel unit 140 is constituted by a bypass guide unit 141 and a cold air hole 142 to the storing compartment 30. The bypass guide unit 141 is formed to be recessed at a predetermined thickness and a predetermined size, similar to the guide unit 102.

The main channel unit 130 and the bypass channel unit 140 may be formed to be communicated with each other with a channel controller 200 formed between the main channel unit 130 and the bypass channel unit 140. Channel controller 200 may comprise a damper provided a pivoting manner. One end of the channel controller 200 may be pivotally fixed at a portion where the first cold air channel unit 131 and the bypass guide unit 141 are connected. The channel controller selectively opens the first cold air channel unit 131 and the bypass channel unit 140 by pivoting at a predetermined angle.

The channel controller 200 may block the cold air channel unit 131 to allow the cold air to flow in the bypass channel unit 140, as shown in FIG. 2. The channel controller 200 may block the bypass channel unit 140 to allow the cold air to flow in the first cold air channel unit 131, as shown in FIG. 3. As can be appreciated, one damper can control two channels. In an alternative embodiment, a second damper may be provided to control the flow of cool air to the second cold air channel unit 132, as shown in dotted lines.

The channel controller 200 may not completely block the first cold air channel unit 131 when the channel controller 200 blocks the first cold air channel unit 131. The end of the channel controller 200 may be spaced from the first cold air channel unit 131 by a predetermined gap. A similar gap may also be formed when the controller 200 blocks the bypass channel 140.

When the channel controller 200 blocks the first cold air channel unit 131, most cold air guided by the guide unit 102 is guided into the bypass guide unit 141 and then supplied to the cold air hole 142 to the storing compartment 30 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) and a small portion of the cold air may be guided by the guide unit 102 flows in the first cold air channel unit 131 through the gap at the end of the channel controller 200. Further, the cold air flows in the second cold air channel unit 132 and is then supplied to the cooling compartment 10 through the outlet 120 (see, e.g., FIG. 1). Alternatively, if a second damper is provided, the second damper may be open to allow cold to the second cold air channel unit 132 or may be closed, depending upon temperature of the cooling compartment 10 and/or the storage compartment 30.

When the channel controller 200 blocks the bypass channel unit 140, the end of the channel controller 20 may be spaced from one side of the inlet of the bypass guide unit 141 at a predetermined gap. Most cold air guided by the guide unit 102 flows in the first cold air channel unit 131 and the second cold air channel unit 132 and is then supplied to the cooling compartment 10 through the outlet 120 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) and a small portion of the cold air guided by the guide unit 102 flows in the bypass channel unit 140 through the gap at the end of the channel controller 200 and is then supplied to the storing compartment 30 (see, e.g., FIG. 1). Again, alternatively, if a second damper or controller is provided, it may be open or closed based on temperature.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, the channel controller 200 of the refrigerator may be provided to simultaneously control the opening rates of the first cold air channel unit 131 and the bypass channel unit 140. The flow amount of cold air supplied to both sides of the first cold air channel unit 131 and the bypass channel unit 140 can be controlled by controlling the rotation angle of the damper.

When both the temperatures of the cooling compartment 10 and the storing compartment 30 is high so that cold air should be supplied to both of them, the opening rates of the first cold air channel unit 131 and the bypass channel unit 140 can simultaneously be controlled.

The operation of the refrigerator will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

A preservation temperature of a storing or storage compartment 30 is set according to contents received in the storing compartment 30. The preservation temperature of the storing compartment 30 can directly be set by a user. Alternatively, if a user inputs the contents received, a controller controlling the overall function of the refrigerator may set the preservation temperature of the storing compartment. The internal temperature of the cooling compartment 10 and the internal temperature of the storing compartment 30, are measured by temperature sensors installed inside the cooling compartment 10 and the storing compartment 30.

The controller compares the preset preservation temperature of the cooling compartment 10 with the internal temperature of the cooling compartment 10 and the set preservation temperature of the storing compartment 30 with the internal temperature of the storing compartment 30. If the internal temperature is higher than the preservation temperature in any one of the cooling compartment 10 and the storing compartment 30, the controller operates the cooler 21 and the fan 101 to ventilate the cold air. Further, the controller controls the rotation angle of the damper in accordance with the comparison results.

When the internal temperature of the cooling compartment is higher than the preservation temperature of the cooling compartment and the internal temperature of the storing compartment is lower than the preservation temperature of the storing compartment, the damper is controlled to close the bypass channel unit 140.

The cold air ventilated or circulated by the fan 101 is guided by the guide unit 102 and then flows in the first cold air channel unit 131 and the second cold air channel unit 132 of the main channel unit 130 so that the cold air is supplied to the cooling compartment 10 through the outlet 120.

The bypass channel unit 140 is blocked and some of the cold air guided by the guide unit 102 flows in the bypass channel unit 140 through the gap at the end of the damper. The cold air is then guided by the bypass guide unit 141 so that the cold air can be supplied to the storing compartment 30 through the cold air hole 142 (see, e.g., FIG. 3).

When the internal temperature of the storing compartment 30 is higher than the preservation temperature of the storing compartment and the internal temperature of the cooling compartment 10 is lower than the preservation temperature of the cooling compartment, the damper is controlled to close the first cold air channel unit 131 in the main channel unit 130.

The controller can be controlled to block the first cold air channel unit 131 and to open the bypass channel unit 140 (see, e.g., FIG. 2). The storing compartment 30 may be stored with the cooled elements which should be cooled at rapid speed, and the cold air is intensively supplied to the storing compartment 30. Alternatively, if a second damper is provided in another embodiment, and is closed, the rapid speed can be increased.

The cold air ventilated or circulated by the fan 101 is guided by the guide unit and then flows in the bypass guide unit 141. The cold air flowed in the bypass guide unit 141 is discharged to the storing compartment through the cold air hole 142 so that an intense cold air is provided. The cold air is continuously supplied to the second cold air channel unit 132 so that the cold air to some degree can be supplied to the cooling compartment 10. Alternatively, if a second damper or controller is provided, the second damper may be controlled such that the cooling compartment is not excessively cooled well below the preservation temperature.

When the internal temperature of the cooling compartment 10 is higher than the preservation temperature of the cooling compartment 10 and the internal temperature of the storing compartment 30 is higher than the preservation temperature of the storing compartment 30, the damper can be controlled to simultaneously control the opening rates of the main channel unit 130 and the bypass channel unit 140.

The controller calculates a first temperature difference ΔT1 between the internal temperature of the cooling compartment 10 and the preservation temperature of the cooling compartment 10 and a second temperature difference ΔT1 between the internal temperature of the storing compartment 30 and the preservation temperature of the storing compartment 30 and controls the rotation angle of the damper according to the ratio of the first temperature difference to the second temperature difference.

As shown in FIG. 4, if an angle between the case closing the first cold air channel unit 131 and the case closing the bypass channel unit 140 is α, the rotation angle is controlled so that the ratio of first temperature difference: the second temperature difference=β:α−β, where β is a value of 0<β<α. In other words, ΔT1/ΔT2=β/α−β.

Also, when considering the volume of the cooling compartment and the storing compartment, the rotation angle of the damper can be controlled according to the ratio of a value of the first temperature difference multiplied by the difference between the volume of the cooling compartment and the volume of the storing compartment to a value of the second temperature difference multiplied by the volume of the storing compartment.

Herein, the storing compartment 10 can be made of an independent cooling space, not a space included in the cooling compartment 30. In this case, the rotation angle of the damper can be controlled according to the ratio of the first temperature difference multiplied by the volume of the cooling compartment to the second temperature difference multiplied by the volume of the storing compartment.

FIGS. 5A to 5G illustrates the various embodiments of refrigerator configuration, which may be applicable in using the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. F1 may correspond to a first freezer compartment, F2 may correspond to a second freezer compartment, R1 may correspond to a cooling compartment, and R2 may correspond to a storage compartment. On the front of the refrigerator, independent door configurations may be provided to access different compartments, which may or may not be physically partitioned, or same door may be used to access different compartments, which may or may not be physically partitioned. The refrigerator may include ice and water dispenser (IWD).

Further, detailed description of the fan is described in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-003342, filed on Apr. 4, 2007, which corresponds to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, both disclosures being incorporated herein by reference.

The present application discloses a refrigerator comprising: a body comprising a cooling compartment and a storing compartment provided in the cooling compartment to form a predetermined cooling space; a main channel unit guiding cold air into the cooling compartment; a bypass channel unit guiding the cold air into the storing compartment; and a channel controller controlling the flow and/or flow amount of cold air flowing into at least one of the main channel unit and the bypass channel unit.

It further comprises a cold air generation room provided with a cooler and a fan for supplying the cold air, and a partition panel partitioning the cooling compartment and the cold air generation room and provided with the main channel unit and the bypass channel unit.

It further comprises a guide unit provided with the fan and communicated with the main channel unit and the bypass channel unit, respectively, to guide cold air to the main channel unit and the bypass channel unit.

The bypass channel unit comprises: a bypass guide unit having a predetermined space, communicated with the guide unit, and selectively partitioned from the guide unit by means of the controller; and a cold air hole provided on one side of the bypass guide unit to discharge cold air bypassed from the guide unit to the storing compartment.

The main channel unit comprises: a first cold air channel unit adjacently provided to the bypass channel unit to be selectively opened and closed by means of the controller; and a second cold air channel unit separately provided from the first cold air channel unit.

Meanwhile, the channel controller comprises one damper whose one end is pivotally fixed at a portion where the first cold air channel unit and the bypass channel unit are connected to simultaneously control the opening rates of the first cold air channel unit and the bypass channel unit.

When the damper closes the bypass channel unit, a free end of the damper is spaced from the one side of the bypass channel unit at a predetermined gap so that the cold air can be flowed in the bypass channel unit through the gap, and when the damper closes the first cold air channel unit, the free end of the damper is spaced from the one side of the first cold air channel unit at a predetermined gap so that the cold air can be flowed in the first cold air channel unit through the gap.

The damper can be constituted to control the opening rates of the first cold air channel unit and the bypass channel unit by means of the change of a pivoting rotation angle.

The present application also discloses a refrigerator comprising: a body comprising a cooling compartment and a storing compartment provided in the cooling compartment to form a predetermined cooling space; a main channel unit guiding cold air into the cooling compartment; a bypass channel unit guiding cold air into the storing compartment; and one damper controlling the flow of cold air flowing into at least one of the main channel unit and the bypass channel unit.

The present application discloses a controlling method of a refrigerator comprising the steps of: setting preservation temperature of a storing compartment according to cooled elements accommodated within the storing compartment; measuring internal temperature of a cooling compartment and the storing compartment, respectively; comparing the internal temperature of the cooling compartment with preset preservation temperature of the cooling compartment and the internal temperature of the storing compartment with preset preservation temperature of the storing compartment, respectively; and controlling a rotation angle of one damper in accordance with the comparison results, wherein one end of the damper is pivotally fixed at a portion where a main channel unit guiding cold air into the cooling compartment is connected to a bypass channel unit guiding cold air into the storing compartment.

When the internal temperature of the cooling compartment is higher than the preservation temperature of the cooling compartment and the internal temperature of the storing compartment is lower than the preservation temperature of the storing compartment, the damper is controlled to close the bypass channel unit, when the internal temperature of the storing compartment is higher than the preservation temperature of the storing compartment and the internal temperature of the cooling compartment is lower than the preservation temperature of the cooling compartment, the damper is controlled to close the main channel unit, and when the internal temperature of the cooling compartment is higher than the preservation temperature of the cooling compartment and the internal temperature of the storing compartment is higher than the preservation temperature of the storing compartment, the damper is controlled to simultaneously control the opening rates of the main channel unit and the bypass channel unit.

A first temperature difference between the internal temperature of the cooling compartment and the preservation temperature of the cooling compartment and a second temperature difference between the internal temperature of the storing compartment and the preservation temperature of the storing compartment are calculated and the rotation angle of the damper is controlled according to the ratio of the first temperature difference to the second temperature difference.

The rotation angle of the damper is controlled according to the ratio of a value of the first temperature difference multiplied by the difference between the volume of the cooling compartment and the volume of the storing compartment to a value of the second temperature difference multiplied by the volume of the storing compartment.

A refrigerator and a controlling method of the same can perform an independent cooling operation of a cooling compartment and a storing compartment as well as can control cold air with one channel controller without having separate dampers controlling cold air for the cooling operation of the cooling compartment and cold air for the cooling operation of the storing compartment, respectively. The manufacturing cost may be lowered and the control may be simplified.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

1. A refrigerator comprising: a housing having a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first and second compartments are maintained at different temperatures; a first channel configured to guide air into the first compartment; a second channel configured to guide air into the second compartment; and a channel controller controlling an amount of air flow into at least one of the main channel or the bypass channel.
 2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cold air generation room having cooler and a fan for supplying air, which is cool or cold.
 3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main channel comprises: a first air channel adjacently provided to the bypass channel to be selectively opened and closed by the channel controller; and a second air channel separately provided from the first air channel.
 4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide unit provided with the fan and configured to communicate with the first channel and the second channel to guide air to the first channel and the second channel.
 5. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second channel comprises: a bypass guide having a predetermined space, and selectively partitionable from the guide unit by the channel controller; and at lease one air hole provided on one side of the bypass guide to discharge air bypassed from the guide unit to the second compartment.
 6. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a panel to partition the first compartment and the cold air generation room and provided with the first channel and the second channel.
 7. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel controller comprises at least one damper whose one end pivots at a portion where the first channel and the second channel meet each other.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second compartment is provided within the first compartment.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the panel further includes an outlet to and an inlet from the first compartment.
 10. A refrigerator comprising: a housing having a first compartment and a second compartment; a main channel configured to guide air into the first compartment; a bypass channel unit configured to guide air into the second compartment; and at least one damper controlling air flow into at least one of the main channel or the bypass channel.
 11. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein one end of the damper pivots at a portion where the main channel and the bypass channel meet so that the damper selectively allows an amount of air flow into the main channel and the bypass channel.
 12. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein when the damper closes the bypass channel, a free end of the damper is spaced from the one side of the bypass channel by a predetermined gap so that air can flow into the bypass channel through the predetermined gap.
 13. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein when the damper closes the first guide, the free end of the damper is spaced from the one side of the first guide by a predetermined gap so that the air can flow in the first guide through the predetermined gap.
 14. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the damper controls the rate of airflow into the first guide and the bypass channel by changing a pivoting rotational angle of the damper.
 15. A method of controlling a temperature of a first compartment and a second compartment of a refrigerator comprising: selecting a temperature of the first compartment and the second compartment, the temperature of the first and second compartments being different; comparing an internal temperature of the first compartment with the set temperature of the first compartment and an internal temperature of the second compartment with the set temperature of the second compartment; and controlling a rotational angle of at least one damper in accordance with the comparison results, wherein one end of the damper pivots at a portion where a main channel guiding air into the first compartment meets a bypass channel guiding air into the second compartment.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein when the internal temperature of the first compartment is higher than the set temperature of the first compartment and the internal temperature of the second compartment is lower than the set temperature of the second compartment, the damper is controlled to close the bypass channel.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein when the internal temperature of the second compartment is higher than the set temperature of the second compartment and the internal temperature of the first compartment is lower than the set temperature of the first compartment, the damper is controlled to close the main channel.
 18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein and when the internal temperature of the first compartment is higher than the set temperature of the first compartment and the internal temperature of the second compartment is higher than the set temperature of the second compartment, the damper is controlled to simultaneously control the opening rates of the main channel and the bypass channel.
 19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the rotation angle of the damper is controlled according to the ratio of a first temperature difference corresponding to a difference between an internal temperature of the first compartment with the set temperature of the first compartment to the second temperature difference corresponding to a difference between an internal temperature of the second compartment with the set temperature of the second compartment.
 20. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the rotation angle of the damper is controlled according to the ratio of a value of the first temperature difference multiplied by the difference between the volume of the first compartment and the volume of the second compartment to a value of the second temperature difference multiplied by the volume of the second compartment.
 21. A refrigerator comprising: a housing having a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first and second compartments are maintained at different temperatures; a first channel configured to guide air into the first compartment; a second channel configured to guide air into the second compartment; a channel controller controlling an amount of air flow into at least one of the main channel or the bypass channel; and a cold air generation room having a cooler and a fan, the fan having a hub, a shroud of annular shape, and a plurality of blades arranged radially with respect to the axis of rotation and coupled to the hub and the shroud. 